Raw Fitness

Join Bootcamp! Have Fun! Get Fit!

2007-05-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.eastvalleybootcamp.com

Some good old fashioned Dr Phil

2007-05-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

#1: You either get it, or you don't. Become one of those who gets it.
#2: You create your own experience. Acknowledge and accept accountability for your life.
#3: People do what works. Identify the payoffs that drive your behavior and that of others.
#4: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge. Get real with yourself about your life and everybody in it.
#5: Life rewards action. Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger.
#6: There is no reality; only perception. Identify the filters through which you view the world.
#7: Life is managed; it is not cured. Learn to take charge of your life.
#8: We teach people how to treat us. Own, rather than complain about how people treat you.
#9: There is power in forgiveness. Open your eyes to what anger and resentment are doing to you.
#10: You have to name it before you can claim it. Get clear about what you want and take your turn

These are Dr Phils main points from Life Strategies... a great book I read a LONG time ago...

accelerate your abilities..

2007-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

oops... will do better on posting here.

ACCELERATE YOUR ABILITIES
by Chris Widener

In today's fast-paced life, the wins usually go to those with exceptional skills and abilities. The old quote is true, "The race is not always won by the swift and the strong, but that is the way to bet."

With this in mind, and with your desire to become increasingly successful, here are some ways to accelerate your abilities, thus enabling you to achieve greater and greater things.

Become dissatisfied with your current state. Growth for growth's sake is good. Those who will achieve much are those who say to themselves, "I want to grow. I want to be better. And I am willing to do what it takes to get there. This current state is not enough!" This dissatisfaction will create for you an insatiable drive to do what it takes to get your abilities to the next level.

Visualize the benefits of increased abilities. Put them at the forefront of your mind. This will saturate your mind with the motivation that it will take for you to do what it takes to increase your abilities. What good will come out of my increased ability? How will I be better off as well as the others around me? The answers to these questions act as the carrot before the horse, moving you forward.

Understand your weaknesses. If you want to improve, one of the best ways is to start with some area that you aren't particularly good at. This is the "shoring up method." Sometimes it is easier to improve something you aren't good at that something you are. And the gains will still look great for your overall situation! Take some time to consider what areas you are weakest in and focus in on them for a while. The results will obviously be much more pronounced than getting better at something you have already somewhat mastered.

Attempt greater levels of what you are already good at. Another tact to take would be to stretch yourself in an area that you already have some skill and ability in. What areas do you excel in? Now understand that when you leave the weaker areas weak and make extraordinary gains in one area, then you will be moving more toward "specialist" rather than "generalist." That is okay, but needs to fit in with your overall goals.

Commit time each day to improvement. Steady improvement is the way to go. In fact, you may not see improvement for days or weeks. You may feel like you are failing each time. But alas, eventually you will get it and your skill will increase to the next level. The key is day in, day out, spending time working on improving. Even five minutes a day equals a half hour a week, 2 hours a month. That adds up! Remember, Practice, practice, practice.

Seek out and spend time with someone who has greater ability than you. One of the best things to do to increase your ability is hang out with people who are already more skilled than you. Watching, them, studying them, interacting with them, even competing with them will make you better. As in sports, to improve, you play with people better than you, not worse. They will raise you to a new level. Who around you can you get involved with who will help you with your ability?

Take a class or hire a coach. Go to school my friend. Take a course at a local college or vocational institute. Take a class online. Hire one of the many coaches available today. Pick a specific skill you would like to improve upon and find someone who is a specialist in that area. At the very least, pick up some audio or videotapes to help you grow.

Be the tortoise, not the hare. Slow but sure. Take your time, do it right. Keep going in the right direction. Learn your craft correctly. Don't give up quality for speed. The whole idea of acceleration is this way: Slow start, work up to high speeds, go the distance. Luckily life isn't a sprint but a marathon!

Hope these ideas help you as you commit to accelerating your abilities!

Women! Lift HEAVY!

2007-01-10T15:47:00.000-08:00

I got this article from a trainer’s magazine called “OnFitness”. It's really one of the better trainers' magazines I have found with some real good stuff on nutrition and training as well some really great quotes and inspirational sayings.

I must add that I lift HEAVY 99% of the time (except for legs)... I recently had my metabolic rate (RMR) tested by Isabel Canez, RD (HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER) and mine was a very surprising 35% faster than normal. This is the highest test result she has seen. This can only be answered by the fact that I probably have more muscle than the average female of my age/height/weight. I cannot stress enough that most women should lift heavy.

Women Should Lift—and Heavily
to create curves, tighten up, and lose inches

ByJillian Coleman

So you have a client who has been going to the same fitness center for years. And through the years, she and her buddies there have talked about why their bodies are the exact same shape they were when they all 1st met: “I’ve been coming to the &*^%$ gym like, forever, and I have not lost a &**&^ pound!” And somewhere along the way, the topic of “bulking up” has surfaced: “If I just look at weight, I put on muscle! That’s why I do tons of cardio. But dang, my thighs are still fat!”

These women have never talked about how to change body fat percentage, how to lose inches or how to increase the intensity of that popular barbell class.

So how are you, the new (or inexperienced) trainer, going to deliver results and keep this trainee from spinning her wheels? The trick to losing inches, strengthening bones, increasing metabolic rate and turning your trainee into fat-burning machine is simple: Lift Heavy!

Is there such a thing as “bulking up?”

What about the much feared bulking up? Is there such a thing? Yes, but it’s not from putting on excess muscle mass. You’ve probably heard plenty from your female trainees that one of their biggest concerns is the dread of bulking up, as they insist that their legs or shoulders respond quickly to heavy weights, that they put on size easily with heavy resistance. (I wonder what all those skinny men, who eat and eat and lift and lift and still can’t put on size, would think of these claims!).

The truth is that bulking up does not happen to women unless there is no effort applied to fat burning. The idea is to lift heavy and get out of your comfort zone (i.e. Within 10-12 reps the weight should become too heavy to lift), so that your body responds by breaking down the muscle tissue and building you back up stronger and leaner.

When gym-goers refer to bulking up, what he or she is really describing is the larger appearance that exists when the same amount of fat remains on top of this newly developed muscle.

The best scenario is to burn fat, build muscle, lose inches, and reveal a more sculpted muscle belly and actually overall smaller limbs. However, it is a unique situation because the only way to get the fat off is to lift weights that challenge the muscles to grow and increase the body’s amount of lean body mass. Consider that a pound of muscle burns 30-50 calories at rest each day, where as a pound of fat burns only 2-5 calories per day. This clearly shows that the more lean muscle mass a person has, the more calories burned at rest.

In other words, with each pound of muscle mass acquired, the trainee increases metabolism and burns more calories just sitting at a desk. On top of the calorie comparison is the fact that muscle takes up considerably less space than fat; thus, losing fat while gaining muscle causes an overall loss in inches. The benefit of increased muscle is even greater during a workout. The more lean muscle mass a trainee has, the more calories are toasted off during the workout.

For example, take two 150 lbs. women, same-age women, one with 20% body fat and the other with 40%. The woman with less body fat will burn a lot more calories if the 2 engage in the same workout.

Lifting Heavy Weights is the #1 way to change the shape of the body

Everyone knows that cardio queen at the gym: on the elliptical machine for hours or doing step class after cycle class after kick box class. Chances are this person is thin. But, she probably doesn’t look athletic, toned, or tight. In fact, it’s not uncommon see a woman going at it on the cardio equipment who initially looks strikingly thin. But if you view her for a few moments longer, you’ll notice that her midsection (which is often bare) is soft and has a spread-like or dough-like quality about it; ‘round and ‘round her pipe cleaner legs go, and you can bet she has trouble carrying heavy grocery bags.

This “thin” woman hardly touches the weights. She’s 20-something and her youth protect her from being blubbery. But if she continues to shy away from serious weight lifting, this fear will eventually catch up to her. By age 35, she’ll be taking clothes off the size 12 or 14 rack.The thing that happens when someone does a lot of cardiovascular activity is essentially the same thing that happens when he or she lifts lighter weights; using a lot of reps. They get smaller or larger but always have the same exact frame. In other words, their curves, or lack there of, are the same. Jog all you want, but only heavy resistance training can change the shape of the body to create a loss in inches and a more balanced physique.

How to lose the fat on top of the muscle

In order to burn fat while maintaining muscle mass, it’s important to use exercises that affect the hormonal situation in the body. The amount of weight lifted, or more specifically, the volume of weight lifted, is directly correlated to the amount of testosterone released by the body. And the amount of testosterone released by the body is directly correlated to the amount of fat the body will burn.

Women should not be afraid of testosterone. In fact, even when women are able to create higher levels of testosterone, they will never have enough to create a masculine look without the help of anabolic (“banned substances”) supplementation, not to mention a lot of time in the gym and at the protein shake blender.

The key to changing the hormonal situation to become an efficient fat-burner is to achieve both mechanical and metabolic failure in a workout. Mechanical failure occurs when the weight lifted simply becomes too heavy to be lifted anymore and assistance is needed. Metabolic failure occurs when trainees experience that burning sensation in their muscles.

Efficient weight-lifting should yield one or both of these phenomena, and this is the most important time to squeeze out one or two more reps. Reaching the point of failure ensures the release of testosterone and human growth hormone to maximize fat-burning both during the workout and deep into the hours following.

How to maximize Fat-Burning

An important point to remember is that everyone has a different level of fitness. To ascertain the correct amount of intensity and the correct amount of rest, use the talk test. During working sets, an individual should be out of breath and speech should be labored. Once the set is over, wait 1-2 minutes (but no more!) before beginning the next set or exercise.Make the trainee truly reaches failure, in order to “earn” a 1-2 min rest. The last few reps should be a heartfelt struggle. In fact, in a 6 rep max set, the struggle is evident from the 1st rep. In an 8 rep max set, struggle may not be evident in the 1st or 2nd rep, but come in the 3rd or 4th rep, the trainee clearly begins to fight.

Sometimes, as a trainer, it’s hard to discern the point at which a trainee is lifting heavily enough to get real results. Pulling out a weight that generates failure within 8-12 reps is a good idea here. This part may take some trial and error, but I would always recommend choosing a weight heavier than lighter. Only 4 or 5 reps may be the result of the 1st try, but at least failure is reached and the muscles are being forced to react. For the 2nd set, decrease the weight only slightly, and still try to induce failure by rep 7 or 8. For the final set, keep the weight the same or decrease it only slightly to induce failure at rep 9 or 10, even if “loose” form is necessary.

Both trainers and clients probably agree that safety is the number one priority while resistance training. However, in the name of heavy weight-lifting to generate results, remember that loose form here and there is perfectly fine and in fact, recommended in the last rep or two for the sake of the workout. (Loose form is that which, for the most part, continues to adhere to proper biomechanics, but there’s a slight component of cheating --- but not to the extent that the trainee is risking injury or defeating the purpose).

If someone is skilled or has a good amount of experience weight-lifting, use this technique to generate the burn and get a little deeper into failure mode. However, remember that if someone is extremely frail or a beginner, he or she should ease into resistance training and steer clear of cheat reps or swinging weight until more comfortable with the movements.

Additional Benefits to heavy resistance training

Everyone has heard that resistance training helps to increase bone density or maintain bone health once a person reaches the mid 30’s. What most fitness professionals forget is that the benefits for bone increase almost linearly with the amount of weight lifted.

Most trainers will shy away from using heavier weights with older adults and those with existing injuries. A good trainer will put safety first, but heavy weights can be used safely and effectively I even the frailest populations, and are the absolute best way to stimulate bone growth. Both the fit and frail should be lifting heavy and reaping the benefits.

Additional muscle development increases neural function including balance and coordination, along with core development and even flexibility. Achieving failure safely in a workout will prime the nervous system and provide more functional advantage than using balance boards and other functional devices. After all, a stronger and more flexible leg is automatically more stable.

Some of the best exercises to profit in this way include clean presses, heavy barbell squats, or barbell push-presses. Experiment with hybrid movements that challenge both the upper and lower body together such as a squat and press or a lunge curl and press. These types of exercise provide superior benefit over the current trend of using single-joint movements coupled with a balance board.

As a personal trainer, I have seen first hand the incredible balance and coordination advances, plus improvement in fat-burning, noticeable inches lost and a tighter, shapelier and leaner physique achieved through lifting heavy weights.

Happy Healthy Holidays

2006-12-25T16:49:00.000-08:00

Our cheesy Christmas card pic

2006-12-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

Join Bootcamp!

2006-12-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.eastvalleybootcamp.com

Starting in January... 7pm Bootcamp coming soon to Mesa also!

Holiday Diet Tips

2006-12-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 caloriesin every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy.Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made withs kim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother?It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention.They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice ofeach. Or, if you don't like mince meat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at allcost. I mean, have SOME standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leavethe party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Doing it again...

2006-10-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

Well... kinda... sorta... again. Like my earlier fruit cleanse, but I am going to go fully VEGAN for a month. Also no processed chemicals like aspartame in food or drink. Which means no Diet Dr Pepper for me.

Anyway... at the moment I am dying of bronchitis. I never go to the doctor... well I rarely get sick, so other than annual physicals, this was the first time I had to actually go to the doctor in years... I don't agree with taking antibiotics, but I have been so sick that I am doing antibiotics, and inhaler and cough medicine with codine. And I still feel like total ass. I sound horrid. I am snotting all over the place and coughing like a maniac. Its just gross. Totally gross. Had to cancel some training sessions as not to infect everyone around me. I just don't want to end up with pneumonia or something.

Bootcamp started on Saturday and I worked out with the 2 sessions. It was VERY fun... just wish I felt better. I started to get back to working out pretty hardcore, but of course, I get sick 2 minutes later. Last Sunday I ran 6 miles. Monday I did weights (uppper body) hardcore, then biked for 60 minutes in the afternoon... and thats where it all ended. Sick and SOOOO SORE.

I digress... but I am going to blog as much as possible, which I am not too sure how I will get here, but I will do my best.

More details on the vegan thing to come... I have been 90% vegetarian for about 2 months. Now I just need to finish off the cheese I have on hand and forgo any ice cream and I will be vegan. I would like to get out all the chemicals as well, meaning lotions, shampoos, etc which up to 60% absorb into the skin. That will come later. For the immediate plan, I will consume NO animal flesh or products. I am planning on starting pretty immediately, but I will officially start on Nov 1st. I am also going to take before pics and then after pics in either 4 or 8 weeks. I desperately want to lose 10 lbs. I have not worked out regularly since July. Well, by regularly, I mean daily like I always have. My diet has been sloppy due to working about 18 hours a day, 7 days a week for months.... and also a miscarriage in August (which I was not going to blog about but whatever). I finally got pregnant the first time I did the fruit cleanse... only to miscarry early on. I gained 5lbs immediately and then another 5 from not working out and stress, etc. I am still not supposed to be working out much due to trying to get pregnant and not having much luck over the past 3 years. But now at least I know I CAN get pregnant. And the miscarriage was a LOT more devastating than I ever would have imagined... especially since I was not very pregnant. Whatever... still trying but trying not to be obsessed about it. I do want to drop a few pounds, but I know that being too lean will cause problems so I am totally stuck in misery. Now I will be teaching 3 boot camp classes per day... which will be my workouts- no more than that. And not sure if that will cause problems, but I am doing it anyway. I feel so horrible not working out. I don't know how people don't workout. It makes me so tired and depressed- not working out.

Anyway... details to come in the next few days.

Fitness Challenge Details... Still time to join!

2006-10-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Fitness Challenge

Details are now posted here!

FAT ATTACK BOOT CAMP... enlist now!

2006-10-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

COMING OCTOBER 30th!!!

FAT ATTACK

BOOT CAMP

Fat Attack BOOT CAMP is a four week outdoor workout program (sessions start each month) that offers group fitness instruction and motivational training – packed with fun, energizing activities designed to help you achieve your fitness goals. Whether you want to slim down to fit into that special dress, shed the extra pounds from pregnancy, get fit for that special occasion or just kick your fitness into high gear, this program is for you!

ENLIST NOW!

What is BOOT CAMP?
Boot camp is a challenging, fun, outdoor group exercise program at a local park.

Who should enlist?
People of all ages and fitness levels who want to get in great shape FAST! You’ll never be asked to perform more than you're capable of doing, but you will be pushed to give 100% effort.

What if I'm not very physically fit?
This program is specifically designed to accommodate all fitness levels and make every person feel capable and confident while doing all of the BOOT CAMP exercises. Participants will be given modifications, adaptations and alternatives to accommodate everyone's fitness level. The program is very diversified, this allows for change and anticipation towards each and every day, knowing that no day will ever be the same!! Our goal is to let you look forward to your next BOOT CAMP class!

NOBODY will be left behind or asked to complete more than they are capable of doing safely. All exercises will be modified to meet your needs and limitations. More than likely you won’t be the most fit person at camp, nor the most out of shape. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses so each activity will be more challenging for some and easier for others. Don’t worry about others in camp. Just do YOUR best!

What is a typical workout like?
Well, there isn’t a typical workout. No workout is repeated during your four weeks of training. We keep your interest and your curiosity levels high in anticipation of the workouts. Each session will different in order to prevent boredom and to keep your body from adapting to the workouts. When your body adapts (which it does very quickly) your results grind to a halt. The workouts are designed to incorporate full body exercises and body weight resistance to maximize calorie and fat burning.

What types of activities are included in BOOT CAMP?
We do everything from running/walking (less than 1 mile), weight training (upper and lower body), core conditioning, abdominal work, calisthenics, plyometrics, circuit training, stretching and more! Everyday is a little different from the day before and you will get a complete workout every session!

Exercises include: push ups, shoulder presses, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, dips, lunges, squats, crunches, the plank, and more...

What if I can’t perform a certain exercise?
We will give you a modified exercise and low-impact drills as an alternative.

How soon will I see results?
Performance improvement can take place in as little as a couple days. "Visual Improvement" can take several weeks depending on your effort level. It's very possible to go down 1-2 sizes within the first camp. Remember, everyone's body is different so your results will be unique to you! Everyone is expected to progress. If you aren't, then you're not putting in the effort, eating improperly or you're missing camp.

What do I need to bring?

An exercise mat
A bottle of water
Running shoes
Workout towel
A pair of lightweight dumbbells (5-10 lbs for women and 8-12 lbs for men)
Weight-lifting gloves are recommended
And a desire to get fit.

What will I get out of participating?

You should make a dramatic improvement in your physical well-being. Camp exercises include programs designed to help you achieve the following:

5 to 10 Pounds of FAT Loss
1 to 3 Inch Decrease in the Midsection
3 to 5% Body Fat Reduction
25% Improvement in Endurance
25% Increase in overall Strength
Substantially increase Flexibility and Core Strength
Firm, lift and tighten ‘trouble’ spots (butt, thighs, arms, midsection)
Supercharge your metabolism
Increased Self Confidence
Improved Posture
Deeper Relaxation & Stress Reduction
A Boost in Energy
Enjoy a Healthier Life

By losing fat and gaining muscle, you'll lose inches and gain strength -- and you'll look and feel better. In addition, you'll meet great people who share your same goals for acquiring a more healthy mind and body.

Where is BOOT CAMP held?
Chuparosa Park near on Dobson between Germann and Queen Creek in Chandler

When is BOOT CAMP?
You can choose between

5:30am and 6:30am M-F mornings
7pm M-Th evenings
9am on Saturday mornings

What is the investment in myself (cost)?
Monthly packages and punch cards will be available at a cost per session of between $6-11. Compare that to personal training fees of $30-70 per hour and you'll agree- Boot Camp is an absolute bargain. Where else can you get 16-39 hours of top fitness instruction and personal training with such a small investment? Exact details coming soon!

MORE DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK!!!

email me for further details in the meantime

Good Advice

2006-10-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

An email from my mom... normally I don't even have the time to stop and read many forwarded emails... but for some reason I read this one quick and thought it was pretty good.

These are better than many. Unfortunately, the female columnist is not identified, but the message is what is important. EDIT: someone sent me the columist:

45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Regina Brett
Plain Dealer Columnist

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere!
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come! PTL
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield & drive friendly.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

The Holiday Fat Attack Fitness Challenge...

2006-10-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Starts on Sunday October 22nd!

Lots of great prizes!!!
Lose FAT during the holiday season this year!

Email me for details!

Perfectify...

2006-10-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

well I have been horrible at posting here...

and this is why!

Got my magazine up and running... well up and ready to launch officially.
Been working mega hours on that venture, besides training clients.

Finally also have a few other sites up as well:
www.chandlerpersonaltraining.com
www.tempepersonaltraining.com
www.arizonapersonaltraining.com

RESTAURANT SHOCKERS

2006-09-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Restaurant Shockers:

7 Ways Chefs Sabotage Your Diet

Chef Devin Alexander Author of Fast Food Fix

Unlike most chefs, I actually lost weight after graduating from culinary school. The key to shedding those 20 extra pounds? Knowing all the sneaky tricks professional cooks use to make their job easier and avoiding those that turn even seemingly healthful dishes into caloric minefields. It’s no surprise to me that a Center for Science in the Public Interest study found that typical appetizer, entree and dessert at a restaurant has 1,000 calories -- that’s each, not a total for the entire meal.

Still, it is possible to eat healthy for even slim down while dining out, says Kathleen Daelemeans, a West Bloomfield, Mich., chef who has maintained a 75 pound weight loss for nearly 13 years and is the author of Getting Thin and Loving Food (Houghton Mifflin, 2004). “You just need to be a forensic diner,” she says. “Ask a lot of questions and make a lot of requests.”

Here are seven common restaurant practices that can sabotage your diet and what you can do about them.

SHOCKER 1

Even steamed veggies are high in fat.

“Fat is what sells food in restaurants,” says Deborah Fabricant, a Los Angeles-based restaurant consultant, former chef and author of Stacks: The Art of Vertical Food (Ten Speed Press, 1999). “That’s why it ubiquitous, even in vegetable dishes.”

“I was required to sauté all my vegetables and to roast my potatoes in duck fat,” confesses David C. Fouts, a chef and restaurant consultant based in Cardiff-by-the Sea, Calif.. who has labored behind the stove at a number of chic eateries in Los Angeles, including Wolfgang Puck’s Granita in Malibu. “Every order of spinach I made got about 2 ounces of butter.” That’s 4 tablespoons, which adds 45 grams (32 grams saturated) and 400 calories to a single side dish.

If you want to eat out and still lose weight, you need to be a forensic diner: Ask a lot of questions and make a lot of requests.

Grilled veggies don’t fare any better. They either get an oil-based marinade or are brushed with oil before grilling and then rebrushed on the plate so the look prettier. Even steamed vegetables aren’t safe. “I recently ordered steamed vegetable from room service at New York City hotel,” Daelemans says. “Sure, they steamed them. But then they tossed them in so much butter and olive oil that I would have been better off ordering a banana split.”

SAVVY-DINER STRATEGY Order your veggies steamed or grilled and make clear to your server that you don't want butter or oil added at any stage of preparation.

SHOCKER 2

Egg-white omelets aren’t necessarily better for you.

If you’ve been to a fancy buffet brunch with an omelet bar, you’ve seen the chef generously ladle a clear liquid into the pan before making your mushroom-and-spinach favorite. The liquid is fat, and the ladle holds at least 2 tablespoons. That’s 22 grams of fat (16 grams saturated) and 200 calories added to an otherwise healthful dish.

That "healthy" egg-white omelet you ordered was likely made with several tablespoons of fat.

The same scene is repeated behind restaurant kitchen doors whenever you order eggs. “ I’ve worked at places where we used faux butter [margarine] even when people ordered egg whites!” says Los Angeles-based Mandy J. Lopez, now a private chef to celebrities.

Sure, you can request “light on oil,” which might lead a chef to cut it down some, but cooking this way makes his job much more difficult. “ A few chefs do use a cooking spray from time to time if they are really conscientious,” Daelemans says. “But oil can withstand a higher heat than spray, so a chef doesn’t have to monitor the food so closely.”

SAVVY-DINER STRATEGY Next time you’re out to brunch, ask that your eggs be prepared without butter or any other kind of fat. Let your server know that you’re aware the dish may not look as attractive as one that’s practically fried.

SHOCKER 3

Those “plain” toasted buns are covered in butter (or worse).

It’s pretty obvious when you take a bite of garlic bread at a steakhouse that it’s dripping with butter. But butter or other fat is added to bread a lot more often than you know. It’s common practice to slap sandwich buns with some form of grease to keep them from sticking to the flattop grill. You may think you’re having a plain grilled chicken sandwich, but there’s a good chance those wheat buns were smeared with margarine before being toasted. This adds 5.5 fat grams (4 grams saturated) and 50 calories.

But that’s not the end of it. The outside of the bread may be smothered in mayonnaise before it’s toasted, says Fouts, who admits to making grilled turkey sandwiches this way at the tony restaurant where he last worked. “That’s how bread gets that beautiful golden color,” he explains.

SAVVY-DINER STRAGEGY
Ask that your bun or bread be toasted "dry." When it arrives, check for signs of butter or other fat, and don't hesitate to send the plate back if you find any.

SHOCKER 4

There’s nothing light about marinara sauce.

Italian marinara sauce is rich in antioxidants (thanks to the lycopene in tomatoes), but did you know it’s also brimming with oil? Chef’s love to go “glug, glug, glug” when preparing this hearty sauce. “A gratuitous amount of oil is often used to build this sauce, starting with the sautéing of the onions,’ Daelemans says. “The oil could add as many as 28 grams of fat (4 grams saturated) and 250 calories to ½-cup serving of sauce. And it doesn’t stop there. “Often we cook marinara with the rinds of Parmesan or in the end piece of a prosciutto to give it a richer flavor,” adds Monica May, a private chef who’s run nightclub restaurants and cooked for numerous celebrities. “One Italian chef I worked with included butter in his tomato sauce because that’s how it was made it in his region of the country.”

A plate of pasta and marinara may contain 1,300 or more calories and 81 grams of fat (24 grams saturated). That’s before you even say “cheese.’

SAVVY-DINER STRATEGY At Italian restaurants, order fish grilled dry, a side of plain steamed veggies and a lemon for seasoning. If you’re craving pasta, order an appetizer portion to share with your dining companion.

SHOCKER 5

Your “healthy” salad is drowning in oil.

Think ordering an entrée salad will help you cut calories? In many cases you might as well be eating fast food. At least ¼ cup of dressing is used to toss a salad, often more. That harmless-looking ladle of creamy dressing has 38 grams of fat (6 grams saturated) and 360 calories, about the same as a cheeseburger. But “creamy” isn’t the only culprit, says May. “Most dressing is based on a 3-1 ratio: three parts oil to one part acid [vinegar], so even balsamic vinaigrette has high fat content.”

Pasta salads, with their colorful broccoli florets and red pepper strips, also can be deceiving. A generous amount of oil is used when they’re prepared. But to preserve that freshly made look, restaurants often add extra “coats” every few hours until they’re served. By the time the salad hits your plate, the oil alone could add as many as 28 fat grams (4 grams saturated) and 250 for a ½ -cup serving.

SAVVY-DINER STRATEGY Ask for lowfat or fat-free dressing on the side, or dress your salad with a splash of balsamic vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice. Avoid pasta salads or limit your intake.

SHOCKER 6

Meat, chicken and fish get a fat rubdown before cooking

At culinary school it was drilled into us that before any piece of meat is cooked -- no mater how it’s to be cooked -- it absolutely must be rubbed on both sides with olive oil. Rubbing a 4- to 6-ounce chicken breast, steak or piece of fish adds up to 10 grams of fat (2 grams saturated) and 90 calories. And if it stops there, you’re getting off easy.

“Some dishes are designed to have butter and oil play a large part in the taste profile,” May says. “The famous Hollywood eatery Chasen’s was known for its hobo steak—a New York Strip cooked tableside in a quarter-pound of butter!”

Fouts divulges that while steaks are “holding” (waiting to be served) they are commonly immersed in butter to keep them from overcooking. Then, just before a steak goes out to your table, it often gets topped with butter or a sauce made from butter or cream.

SAVVY-DINER STRATEGY Explain to your server you want your meat, chicken or fish grilled or broiled with absolutely no butter or oil.

SHOCKER 7

Sushi isn’t as lean as it looks.

With its fresh flavors and beautiful, minimalist presentation, sushi must be diet food, right? Many of us seek it out specifically when we’re in the mood for a meal that’s lean. As a result, lots of dieters let their guard down at the sushi bar. Trusting that they’ve entered safe-eating haven, they fail to detect the mayonnaise in California, spicy tuna and specialty rolls. It’s particularly tough to notice the excess in California rolls because the white crab conceals the mayo. But it can add as many as 17 grams of fat (2 grams of saturated) and 150 calories in just four pieces. Rolls made with American ingredients are always suspect. “You deserve all the fat you get if you order rolls with cream cheese,” May jokes.

SAVVY-DINER STRATEGY Don’t be afraid to ask your sushi chef what’s in your sushi; a good chef will be happy to tell you in detail. Your best choice is sashimi (pieces of raw fish). And skip any rolls with the word crispy in their description, a sign they’re probably deep-fried.

© October, 2004 Shape Magazine. Weider Publications,

good quote

2006-08-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

“Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz-something they are using to get around in but nothing they genuinely care about understanding.”

Chungliang A Huang

Dying to see this...

2006-08-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Stumbled across this...

hope it is not a let down, sounds profoundly intriguing though. Really want to see it! SOON!

2006-08-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

What is a "normal" diet?

Consumers and food industry pundits have it all backwards

Posted Monday, June 12, 2006 by Mike Adams

I was describing the raw foods diet to someone the other day, and they remarked, "Well I'm not sure I want to do that. I don't want to do something so extreme," and I said, "What do you mean extreme? You think the raw foods diet is extreme?" Then it hit me: Most people think that the processed food diet -- loaded with chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial plastic fats and milled grains that are depleted of nutrients -- is normal.

In this article, we're going to explore what's normal versus extreme when it comes to food. And on that topic, I have a very different opinion than the masses. My opinion is that "normal" means what the human body was designed to consume. What's normal is food from nature. What is completely abnormal, radical or extreme is food that is made in a factory; food that is processed and so completely unnatural that if you throw it outside the animals won't even eat it.

That's the kind of food the uninformed masses eat every single day. People have no idea what they're really eating. They think it's normal to have blueberry bagels made with antifreeze. That's one of the ingredients in blueberry bagels, and you can find it right there listed on the package. Look for polypropylene glycol. That's antifreeze. You can find other foods made with car wax. There's actually carnauba wax in foods, and people think that's completely normal. There are petroleum chemicals in foods in the form of artificial colors, and people think that's normal too. People accept this as normal because that's what everybody else is doing, not because it's actually normal for the human body to process these substances. They think it's all okay because that's what has been made standard by the marketing and advertising of the food industry.

Overall, people have a very bizarre idea of what is normal, and you hear this in another common myth, which is that all foods, even ones that are bad for you, can be eaten in moderation. The food industry claims that all foods can be part of a healthy diet. You usually hear this from companies that are selling you the most disease-causing food and beverage products in the entire food supply. Soft drink companies, for example, say that soft drinks can be part of a healthy diet. They are implying that you can eat a little bit of everything, no matter how bad it is for your health, and still somehow be healthy. This goes along with the idea that processed foods and junk foods are normal.

What's really compatible with your body? When you are eating the diet that nature intended, you are eating the diet that your body was designed to consume: A diet of raw fruits and vegetables , nuts, seeds and leaves, right from nature to your body. That's the only diet that you were designed to consume and that is normal. Now, anything that diverts you from that diet is abnormal and, in fact, anything that takes you away from that diet is going to promote chronic disease.

So, one soft drink a day is less healthy than no soft drinks a day. One soft drink a day makes a difference; it makes you less healthy. In fact, it causes a lot of problems for your pancreas and blood sugar. A soft drink a day promotes diabetes and obesity. It can promote blood sugar imbalances, mood swings ; violent, aggressive behavior (especially in young males), and nutritional deficiencies, especially the B vitamins, which are extremely important for your cardiovascular system and nervous system health. In my view, one soft drink a day, even though the soft drink companies say you can consume it in moderation, takes you away from what is healthy. A healthy human diet does not consist of soft drinks, nor does it consist of Big Macs, french fries or processed, homogenized, pasteurized milk from cows. That is not a normal part of the human diet.

Society has been distorted by the food industry, which is why artificial foods are "normal" and vegetables are "extreme"!!

Taking medication is not normal either

Human beings did not evolve to consume prescription drugs either. If they had, prescription drugs would grow on bushes and trees (or the body would produce them automatically), but they don't, which is a strong indication that they're abnormal. Prescription drugs are now the fourth-leading cause of death in this country, according to the American Medical Association. Drugs that have been approved as safe by the Food and Drug Administration kill 100,000 Americans each and every year.

That is an astounding statistic, and that, friends, is not normal.

Pushers of drugs and medications may try to convince you that taking drugs is normal, of course. I've heard stories of doctors who would try to convince you that removing your organs is normal. I know someone who had gallstones. He went to see a surgeon and the surgeon said, "Well, we have to take your gallbladder out. Don't worry about it. We do it all the time. It's a normal procedure. No problem."

So this person had his gall bladder removed, and I'm thinking to myself, "Whoa, whoa, why do you think the body builds these organs?" The gallbladder is intimately connected to the digestive system. It has an important role, especially in the digestion of fats. If you don't have a gallbladder, you're going to have some major problems absorbing fat-soluble vitamins for the rest of your life, and surgeons don't even tell you this information. They take out your gallbladder and fail to warn you to take nutritional supplements to compensate for the loss your body has sustained.

Society has been distorted by the food industry, which is why artificial foods are "normal" and vegetables are "extreme"

We have a very strange culture in America today. People think that processed, manufactured, artificial foods -- the foods with cancer-causing chemicals -- are completely normal. Yet, at the same time, they think that foods from nature, for which your body has a built-in blueprint of compatibility, are completely abnormal. That's how distorted our culture has become. That's how the food industry, the FDA, the USDA and all the other organizations that are colluding to misinform people, have managed to turn the truth upside down. They've managed to convince people that true is false and false is true; that normal is extreme and that extreme is normal, and they've done a very good job of it.

Now what happens if you eat natural food for which your body was designed? If you return to a lifestyle of foods from nature in their uncooked form, you will find yourself moving rapidly towards a state of perfect human health. It's no exaggeration. If you give up all processed food, completely, 100 percent; if you give up all animal products 100 percent, plus all cooked foods 100 percent and eat nothing but fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, leaves and tubers from nature, you will rapidly enhance your health, reverse degenerative disease and utterly eliminate your need for prescription drugs.

What is health really? Health is a state of harmony between you and the natural environment. That's really the true measure of health. Doesn't it make sense that to attain a high state of health, you should consume the foods for which your body was naturally designed? It's built into your genes. You have a genetic blueprint to consume low-glycemic foods, high-fiber foods, foods with natural minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients. This compatibility is in your genes. Unprocessed, uncooked foods right out of nature are what you are designed to consume. So it only makes sense that, as you move closer to that diet -- known as the raw foods vegan diet -- you will attain a state of perfect harmony with yourself. It only makes sense that any deviation from that -- processed foods, factory foods, foods with a long shelf life, etc. -- will take you away from a state of perfect health.

That is why we have so much chronic disease and strange behavior in the population today. What you eat affects how you think; it affects your behavior, moods and level of aggression. This is all influenced by your food choice. Obviously if you want a state of perfect health, you have to eat the food that you're compatible with. The natural, raw foods vegan diet right out of nature is innately compatible with human biology.

Hot dogs and other deviant foods

You want to know what's truly dietarily deviant? Taking the carcass of a cow that's been shot up with hormones and antibiotics, that has been denied sunlight and a healthy environment, and squeezing that carcass through an advanced meat-recovery (AMR) machine so that the juice comes out of every bone and spinal cord tissue, then capturing the juice, blending it with other cow parts, pressing it into the shape of a hot dog, adding cancer-causing sodium nitrite to make it turn red, packaging it in plastic and calling it food. That's extreme. That's not even food; that's some kind of manufactured horror that I wouldn't touch. I didn't even mention all the chemicals they add in there, and all the other cow parts like lips, hoofs and anything that counts as protein. It's amazing what is considered "meat" in the food industry these days. Astonishingly, most consumers think eating a hot dog is "normal" but eating raw okra is weird.

Let me give you another example of what's extreme: Taking a grain of wheat from the grasses of nature, stripping away virtually all the nutrition in that wheat berry -- the fiber, the healthy oils, the protein content, all the vitamins and minerals -- and leaving only a high carbohydrate, nutritionally depleted endosperm, then grinding that into flour, bleaching it with chemicals that cause diabetes, and using it to make cereals, crackers, cookies, biscuits, pasta and all sorts of other groceries that you find at the store.

That is extreme. That is abnormal. It is completely incompatible with the human body, yet most people consider those foods to be normal. They think macaroni and cheese is normal. Here are some of its ingredients: Petroleum products, processed salt, nerve toxins and chemicals that, in a different variation, are used to pave roads. Similarly, people have no idea what's in their powdered coffee creamer. It's almost pure hydrogenated oils and corn syrup solids. That's it. It's just sugar and plastic fat. I believe instant creamer delivers instant harm to the health of anyone foolish enough to put it in their coffee. Ultimately, the consumption of hydrogenated oils and refines sugars can lead to diabetes, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, nervous system disorders, mood swings and birth defects due to malabsorption of essential fatty acids.

People can't seem to grasp the abnormality of a diet that is completely incompatible with nature

People think it's normal to drink three cups of coffee a day. They think it's normal to drink soda for breakfast. People think it's normal to eat meat five days a week, or nacho chips laced with chemical excitotoxins and artificial color. But none of this is normal. This is all extreme. This is all a dangerous deviation from the diet that's truly natural and normal.

The only people truly eating a "normal" diet today are the vegans. Everybody else is eating some deviation from that normal diet, yet they think a vegan diet is "extreme." But it's the standard American diet that's blatantly incompatible with the human body. It's incompatible with sustainable agriculture and balance between people and nature. It's incompatible with clear-headedness and lucid thinking. It's incompatible with internal health at all levels, including the health of women who are pregnant and trying to give life to another being.

Now, in another sense, the standard American diet of death and disease is of course normal from the point of view that everybody is doing it, so the extreme has become socially acceptable. The foods that kill you are the foods that virtually everyone consumes. That's why these people think their food choice is normal. That's why they think that you, as a vegetarian or a vegan or someone who avoids dangerous ingredients, are abnormal or extreme. They, the ignorant masses eating death and disease, think you are a weirdo for eating foods that actually promote clear thinking and biological health. The irony is hilarious.

Only someone who has been educated in this information can understand the different frames of reference that are at play here. The dynamics can be a bit complicated at times. There's no question whatsoever from the point of view of what is compatible for the human body, that processed foods, restaurant foods, fast foods and snack foods are abnormal and extreme. Did you know we have guacamole dip sold in the grocery stores right now that doesn't even have avocado in it? How's that for extreme? We even have purple ketchup. We have cheese sold in a can that looks like you could use it to inflate the tires on your car. That's extreme. Those are just a few of the many examples of the extreme foods that people accept as normal.

Come to think of it, I suppose it's also "normal" to be taking antidepressant drugs, cholesterol medications and diabetes drugs. It's also normal to be diseased, mentally slow, emotionally unstable, physically inept, cardiovascularly weak and spiritually bankrupt. If you want to be normal, there's a whole world of people waiting to welcome you to their way of life. Whip out that pharmacy discount card. Make another appointment with your doctor. Be sure to tune in to cable news so you can be told what to think today. And don't ever do anything strange or odd that might be non-conformist, or your peers will talk badly about you behind your back.

But for the rest of us who wish to live beyond the norm, there's veganism. It's the diet of the few intelligent, lucid, advanced human beings who now inhabit this planet. Raw foods is a big part of that diet, although it's not necessary to be 100 percent raw. Veganism is gaining momentum among the informed, thinking people of the world, and you don't even have to be a pure vegan to experience the benefits of this diet. Just experiment with it and see what works for you. There's no doubt you'll find, as have millions of others, that avoiding animal products, processed foods and manufactured foods, while consuming fresh, organic produce from nature, is the surest path to health, vitality, longevity and lucidity.

http://www.NewsTarget.com/019417.html

Back on track...

2006-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

Man I have been HUNGRY!!! But yesterday ate only raw fruit/veggies. No chemicals whatsever. Going to keep at it for a while super strict.

Ok... going to post my last blood test results mainly so in case I ever lose the stupid print out, which I did last week. I tore apart the entire house to find it. I usually am very anal and file everything, but we moved our office to a different room and things got a little stirred up. So now I can refer back here if necessary.

Here is the main stuff (not every single thing on the print out):
April 18, 2006 (when I was on tons of sugar-free crap, tons of diet soda and an all protein diet)

Glucose: 85 - should be under 100
Triglycerides: 68 - should be under 150
HDL (good cholesterol): 85 - should be over 39
LDL (bad cholesterol): 72 - should be under 130
VLDL cholesterol: 11 - should be under 29
Overall cholesterol: 168 - should be under 200
Chol/HDL ratio: 2.0 - should be under 4.5
Iron: 99 - should be 35-175 (this was too high last time, but cut all vitamins and supplements and it went back to normal??)

T3: 30.5 - should be 23.4-42.7
T4: 7.2 - should be 4.5-12.5
TSH: 3.09 - should be 0.45-4.5 (so IMHO this is a little HYPOthyroid)

Last blood pressure reading was 98/65.

So now in a month or 2, I am going to repeat the tests to see how the raw/fruititarian/vegan/no chemicals/no processed food/no diet soda diet alters these in any way.

Soooo over it...

2006-07-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

figure competitions that is... In June I went to Miami to do a huge national competition with one of my clients/friends. After torturing myself to the point of absolute physical and mental meltdown, I just really decided I was totally repulsed by that scene. I was just like what the hell??? What is the point of this stupidity? The women were sooooooo buff and soooo pretty, but uuuuuuughgghghgh... I just decided I was so over it. I cut way back on reading fitness competitor and bodybuilding message boards and blogs. I basically quit reading that stuff- but I confess I do check in to my favorites maybe once a week.

THIS basically describes the scene I finally decided I was sick of... I don't think many people understand this world. It is basically an eating disorder contest that you can really get sucked into and almost think it is 'normal' to exist that way.

Anyway... I am now trying to eat for health instead of eating to look a certain way. Those 2 roads are VERY different. Granted you CAN be healthy on a non-starvation competition type high protein diet. My bloodwork shows that I was very healthy. Just that I was doing it for the wrong reasons. And mentally competition mode is very destructive.

Anyway... I digress. I just found that link today and it kinda illustrated my reasons for taking the path I am on now.

Still 99% vegan. I was cheating a little with junk, but over the past couple days I have decided to clean it up 100% again. I have cut back on workouts. Doing about 4-5x a week instead of about 10x a week. I did have a soda today, but it was my only one in a couple weeks or more. I didn't even really like it or want it. I just needed something to drink when I was out and about. Starting tomorrow, I will go ultra clean vegan again for a few more weeks.

Other than that.... crazy busy as ever. Bought 2 new cars in less than 2 months. That sucked... hate the process. Still working a TON on my upcoming business venture. Lots of clients are still on vacation so my training schedule is a little light so I can work more on the new biz.

Naturaopath appt was good. She did say that the massive skin breakout was from detoxing and she was not opposed to my current diet, however she did recommend adding in lean meats and whole grains at some point, which I am not wanting to do now. She WAS very impressed that I changed my diet and chemical (aspartame, processed food) intake so drastically. I brought her my last blood tests taken in May. She was a little confused as she thought it was taken AFTER I cleaned up my diet. I was like no- that was when I was eating all protein and a bunch of chemicals/soda/sugar free everything. She asked me that 2x. Which goes to show you can be healthy and fine on a radical diet. It is better than the crap 90% of everyone else eats. Anyway, I think I am going to try accupunture. Never done it before and want to try it.

Went shooting at an outdoor range today- had to go super early as I had clients starting at 10am. A client and her fiance and Mike and me went. OMG it was so fun. I was really scared at first- never been around guns before- other than my dads antique display unloaded guns that hung on a wall, but I shot several different guns. With the maniac serial rapist and killer on the loose, I have surveyed everyone I know and train just out of curiosity... I think I may be the only one who does not own a gun in AZ. So I am researching it and will be purchasing one soon. I got to try my friends 22 and a 9mm and a shot gun and another big ass shot gun- I am gun retarded and have no idea of all the lingo. I am going to go gun shopping and may get a Conceal Carry permit. We'll see. Also arranging a women's self-defense class for my clients and their friends/family in September. That should be fun.

Still alive...

2006-07-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Been keeping pretty much to fruit still on the diet front... with a few bites of processed stuff here and there. But still nothing other than distilled or bottled water- no soda or crystal light (this is a massive feat on my part- don't think I have done this since before college?). 90% of my diet is fruit. Mike has been making bad stuff lately... so I have had an occasional piece of whatever he is eating. Had one slice of homemade pizza, a bit of ice cream, a few chips and that is pretty much the extent of the crap I have eaten in the past week. Everything else is fruit or veggies. My skin got a lot better and now a lot worse again. I have not felt the best lately, but not sure if it is the heat or what. Had a few bouts of nausea, but I have been out in the heat a lot lately- including car shopping in 117 degree heat (who does that?? only an insane person would do this... it was horrible) and planting shrubs and plants (who does this in the middle of summer?). Not much else to report except that I have been super busy, even though many of my clients are on vacation.

I am going to a naturopath today. Just to check in and discuss a few things. But I am also going to ask her opinion of the diet approach. We'll see what she says. Might think it is a little extreme. I dug out my most recent bloodwork results to bring to her. I will post it later... because it makes a definite point that eating very high protein, even Atkins-ish sometimes does not kill you, raise your cholesterol or whatever. My cholesterol and triglycerides are stellar. I was eating mainly protein and fat for the several months prior to the tests...

More on the naturopath later...

A 6 month experiment...

2006-07-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

Still going strong on the fruit detox/raw food vegan program. I think I am going to give it a full 6 month trial. I have a larger scope of reasoning as to why I am doing this and why I started doing it... however, I would rather not divulge everything here- there are some personal reasons. If you want more info... email me. I know I am going to get a lot of crap for doing this... but we'll see how I am feeling in a month or 2. I will also be doing some blood work in maybe a month to see if anything has changed- good or bad- from this type of eating. It doesn't hurt to experiment. And this way of eating is 49584958 times healthier (even though it may seem restrictive to some) than the standard American diet. The other thing is that I rarely do anything without researching it to death.

However, I got to thinking... my 3 dogs now eat better than I had been... One of my clients is very into holistic vet and naturopathic people stuff and she told me about feeding her dogs human grade food. I had read about it in the past, but began researching it further. Stumbled onto this site (which led to many other sites and books). Lots of good info there. Anyway... I have been making my dogs food for about 6 months. They LOVE to eat now. I can't scoop it out fast enough for them... their coats are so smooth and shiny... they are extremely healthy. Better than all the nasty stuff they put in even the most 'natural' dog food. I don't feed them raw meat though. That is the only thing I don't do. But I blend or chop up tons of veggies and eggs (sometimes raw, sometimes cooked) and meat, along with flaxseed oil, ground flaxseed, some cottage cheese or powdered egg shells for calcium.

So while I was thinking of doing a detox... I remembered my dogs were eating healthier than I was... and there is just something wrong with that picture. No chemical or 'sugar free' stuff in their food. Just pure veggies and protein, which is what they would eat in the wild... which is how humans should be eating for optimum health.

Fruitatarianism Research

2006-07-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Fruitarianism: Pro and Con

by Tom Billings

First issue 1996 Second (revised) issue 1997

Introduction
This article is based on my direct experience as a fruitarian, and on my observation of, and association with, fruitarians over the years. I was a fruitarian for most of the 1970's, when I lived in Florida; see my bio on this site for details. I no longer follow a fruitarian diet; instead I suggest that others find, and follow, a more diverse (less extreme), more balanced diet.

Definition
Here fruitarianism will be defined as a diet that is predominantly raw fruit (75+ %), with the remainder of the diet being composed of raw vegetarian (usually raw vegan) foods. Here fruit has the common definition, i.e., the reproductive parts of a vine, bush, or tree, that includes juicy pulp. The common definition is used here rather than the botanical definition, as grain is considered a fruit under the botanical definition (but not the common definition).

Summary Statement on Fruitarianism
Fruitarianism is possible according to idealistic dietary theory, but it can be quite difficult in practice. The diet has many pitfalls that can cause serious problems for the would-be fruitarian. Fruitarianism portrays fruit as the ideal natural food, yet modern fruit is the product of generations (in some cases, thousands of years) of human-directed plant breeding. In short, modern fruit has been bred for a high sugar content, and is greatly over-rated as a food. Very few people claim to succeed on the fruitarian diet, in the long term. Additionally, the high incidence of binge eating and backsliding in raw veganism raise serious questions regarding the credibility of the claims of long-term success. In summary, apply common sense: there are very few long-term success stories, and even fewer credible success stories, for fruitarianism. Does that suggest that it is the "ideal, natural" diet for everyone, as its advocates claim, or a fringe diet that appeals primarily to idealists? This question deserves serious consideration, particularly if you are considering adopting the diet.

Fruitarianism: Pro

* fruit is widely regarded as the best tasting raw food, and eating fruit is very pleasant indeed - after all, we all like sugar! :-)

* it is a very cleansing diet, and may be helpful (in the short run) against diseases/disorders where physical toxemia is a factor (note: this applies to other raw foods diets as well; the point is that fruitarianism is probably the most cleansing diet)

* fruit, if it is grown locally and not shipped, refrigerated, fumigated, subjected to heat/cold treatment to kill fruit flies, etc., is a low violence food. However, shipping fruit, refrigerating it, etc. do involve violence to the environment; fruit subjected to such treatment cannot be considered a low violence food. In other words, most fruit is neither violence-free nor karma- free.

* promotes weight loss and gives you a light body

* fruitarianism alters your mental state, promoting a light and airy mental feeling that some find quite pleasant. Some interpret this as a "spiritual" feeling.

* can promote extraordinary physical health - you *appear* to be (relatively) immune to illness (at least in the short run), and injuries heal very quickly. This, combined with the "light" mental effect, makes it *appear* that you are experiencing a higher state of living.

* your respiratory system may function better than on other (cooked) diets, though only slightly better (or same) as other raw diets

* it can sharpen your senses to an extraordinary degree, especially the senses of taste and smell. Your sense of smell may get so sharp that it is emotionally painful to sit in the same room with someone who is a garlic eater, or one who smells of tobacco (you simply can't stand the stench).

* reduces the amount of water you need to drink (as fruit is high in water)

Fruitarianism: Con

* modern fruit is expensive, lacking in vitality and quality as a result of shipping, refrigeration, fumigation, etc. The importance of year-round access to good quality local fruit limits the applicability of fruitarianism.

* fruitarians usually experience severe weight loss, with weight stabilizing at anorexic levels. It is extremely difficult to gain weight on a fruit diet, even if you overeat avocados.

* advocates of fruitarianism claim that anyone can succeed on their ideal, natural fruitarian diet if they have faith or positive thinking. This is a contradiction: does the cow need faith to succeed on diet of grass? Does the lion need positive thinking to succeed on a diet of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest meat? Of course not! If you need faith to succeed, it is probably not the "ideal, natural" diet as claimed by the advocates.

* the diet is extremely difficult, as most people find that a fruit diet is neither physically nor psychologically satisfying: hunger is frequent, and backsliding and binge eating are very common.

* fruitarians often display food-obsessive behavior. Take two pieces of bread, give one to an anorexic, and another to a fruitarian. The anorexic thinks, "I can't eat this bread, it will create fat"; the fruitarian may think in a similar matter: "I can't eat this bread" - with the reason(s) cited being one or more of the following delusions: a) the bread is cooked, hence toxic, b) the bread will produce mucus, which is the root of all disease, and will make me "impure", c) the bread contains protein (and/or starch), and all protein/starch is toxic and a horror. Here the point is the obsessive attitude toward food common to the anorexic and the fruitarian.

* very easy to overeat, and easy to fall into the nasty trap of sugar addiction. Sugar is well known for its ability to promote food cravings, which often leads to binge eating and/or overeating.

* modern, cultivated fruit is very high in sugar, higher in sugar than most wild, uncultivated fruits. A diet of only fruit can provide excess sugar intake, resulting in diabetes-like symptoms: sugar cravings, excessive urination, thirst, sugar highs/blues, fatigue. Excessive sugar, in the long run, may have a negative effect on the pancreas. (Fruitarians would be well advised to daily eat some dark, bitter, leafy greens - according to several herbal health systems, bitter greens help regulate sugar metabolism and reduce sugar cravings.)

* very socially isolating. This is very difficult for most people to handle; extroverts should not try to be fruitarians! The social isolation can promote a sense of psychological deprivation, which further encourages backsliding and binge eating. The social isolation and psychological deprivation can also warp your perception of eating; instead of a nourishing, nurturing experience, it becomes an exercise in egoism (similar to the phony compassion/ego trap that so many ethical vegans fall into.) One may identify with the diet; it becomes a "badge" or "symbol" of your individuality - in other words, a projection of the ego, rather than a peaceful, nourishing experience.

* many fruitarians eventually give up the diet as it is too difficult to continue - one experiences burnout from the food obsessions, social isolation, psychological deprivation, frequent hunger. It's interesting that some untreated anorexics also eventually recover from anorexia nervosa for the same reasons. In practice there is little difference in avoiding eating because you fear getting fat, and eating an inadequate diet because you are afraid of cooked food, mucus or protein. One must be very careful to practice fruitarianism with a totally positive attitude, lest it become a diet motivated by an obsessive fear of cooked food, mucus, or protein; for when fruitarianism is characterized and motivated by obsessive fear, it becomes an actual eating disorder!

* light, airy mental feeling that some compare to a minor drug high, and others mistake it for some kind of spiritual feeling. Said light feeling does not compare to, and is not the same as, the secure, peaceful, blissful, loving feelings that one gets from meditation or other genuine spiritual practices. I speak from direct personal experience on this point, having experienced both kinds of feelings. (P.S. some anorexics report mental effects similar to those experienced by fruitarians; that is one reason anorexia is so hard to overcome.) Note also that the "light" or "euphoric" mental feeling reported by fruitarians (and those with anorexia) may in fact be a symptom of a zinc deficiency. Zinc supplements are sometimes used in therapy for anorexia. Similarly, the loss of libido reported by some fruitarians, may be another symptom of a zinc deficiency (zinc is scarce in vegan diets, particularly raw vegan diets).

* fruitarianism, especially the 100% fruit version, is a very purifying diet, on the physical level. However, it is my observation/opinion that extensive physical purification, without accompanying spiritual or ethical development, usually leads to mental and/or emotional problems. These problems can take many forms; a few examples (in my experience/opinion), are as follows. 1) The fruitarian who was obsessed with two things - food and his bowel movements - and who drank vinegar like it was water. 2) The fruitarian who left his wife, moved to South America and lived naked with his girlfriends on a mountain. 3) The zealot fruitarian(s) who attack all diets other than (their own) raw vegan, and whose dialog is filled with ego, anger, hate, and other negativity. A pure body is irrelevant when your heart and mind are full of the poisons of anger and negativity.

An Alternative: A Near Fruitarian Diet

A "near-fruitarian" diet is an alternative to consider, for those who insist on following a high % fruit diet. It may help you avoid some of the problems of a 75+% fruit diet, but, of course, it cannot be guaranteed, and one should keep sharp watch for problems on a near-fruitarian diet as well.

For purposes of discussion, such a diet is a raw vegan diet that is approximately 70% (or less) raw fruit, with emphasis on semi-sweet and (to the extent possible) neutral fruit.

And, the remainder of the diet consists of:

- dark leafy greens and other vegetables. Emphasis is on bitter greens, but should also eat astringent, pungent, salty tasting greens. According to several herbal health systems, such greens help regulate sugar metabolism and provide some protection from sugar addiction. They also provide chlorophyll and minerals, and provide tastes that are difficult to get in fruits (most of which are predominantly sweet or sour).

- It's also a good idea to regularly eat some ginger to promote the digestive fire. If you object to ginger, eat pungent greens instead: mustard, arugula, watercress.

- Sprouts, specifically almonds, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, peanut, also flax. These provide fatty acids that are scarce in fruit (you do get tired of avocados if eaten daily). Green jelly coconuts are good also. Buckwheat, other sprouts are also OK but do not supply fatty acids.

Additional considerations:

- get vitamin B-12 from a reliable source (supplement)

- do something to avoid or counter stress and social isolation

- last but most important: make spiritual or ethical development a top priority, to reduce/avoid the potential mental and emotional problems that often occur.

Comments on Neutral Fruit

The term neutral fruit refers to fruits that are neither sweet, nor acid. This includes many "vegetable fruits": tomatoes, sweet peppers, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers. However, these fruits also present problems if one tries to make them the basis of a diet: - tomatoes - can be acidic, and many people react negatively to them, especially when eaten in quantity, - zucchini has little or no flavor, - raw eggplant is not appealing, in texture or flavor, - sweet peppers are notorious for causing gas (severe flatulence), - cucumbers - the least offensive, but provide almost no calories, and very little nutrition. What do you call someone on a long-term, (nearly) mono- cucumber diet? In my opinion, the term anorexic may apply.

Neutral fruit, primarily cucumbers and some tomatoes, can be part of your diet, but are not a sufficient basis for a diet for most people. Some fruitarians suggest that you emphasize neutral fruit if you have trouble with the high sugar content of sweet fruit. Be aware that you may experience severe weight loss if your diet is based on cucumbers. (Once again, reality contradicts idealistic dietary theory.)

Epilog

Don't try fruitarianism out of fear of cooked food, mucus or protein. If you choose to try fruitarianism - do so ONLY if you have clear, positive reasons to motivate you, and do watch for signs of ALL the potential problems listed above. A fruitarian diet that includes protein foods and leafy greens, will pose fewer risks/problems than a 100% fruit diet. The information in this article is offered in the hope that it may help others who are considering fruitarianism.

Some readers of this article may think the difficulties of fruitarianism are exaggerated here: they are not, but you are of course free to find out the hard way, if you insist. To anyone on a fruitarian diet, or contemplating one, good luck - you may need it!

Raw Food Research

2006-07-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Is fruit too cleansing to build muscle on it?

That's the way it appears to many people, but it has not proven to be true for long-time fruit eaters Roe Gallo, Don Weaver, Tom Stone and myself. It can take a few years to build up on fruit. The body will not build up until it is essentially completely detoxified. If fruit eaters stay too thin, their emotions and perceptions about their body and what food is supposed to do for them may figure in that. To gain weight on fruit, we must have the desire to live in a fit body, and we must be relaxed. Weight training may be necessary to build muscle mass - only a little bit can yield pleasing results. If fruit eaters want to gain weight and they are not into physical culture, I suggest that they try a few lessons with a fitness trainer - they may discover how great it can feel to work their muscles, develop muscle tone and have a stronger spine. Dr. Bernard Zovluck in Los Angeles and Stephen Arlin of Nature's First Law in San Diego are both 200 pound 100% raw food body builders who eat mostly fruit.

It is noteworthy that over the last year, Dr. Doug Graham, author of "The High Energy Diet" raw food recipe book, trained pro basketball player Ronnie Grandison. Doug is a chiropractor and fitness trainer for world-class athletes (he trained Martina Navratilova at one time) who teaches the Natural Hygiene approach out of his center in Florida. Doug recently informed me that Ronnie transitioned to a diet of about 90% fruit, and in October Ronnie made the New York Knicks team - the world's first pro athlete raw fooder! Ronnie is 6'8", 200 lbs., and according to Doug, is doing better than ever with regard to every aspect of his health and athletic performance. If you're searching for a good reason (there aren't many) to see the Warriors at least once this year, the Knicks are coming to Oakland on March 24. I'll try to get as many tickets as possible!

from rawfoods.com

So... I just wasted an hour...

2006-07-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

looking for blog templates... because I have nothing else to do... riiiiight. I didn't find anything I liked so I guess I will keep this boring one.

The past couple days have been rough. Friday I was about in tears all day with the most horrific back pain I have had in a very very very long time (I have a major spinal fusion). I don't have any Vicodin on hand... but of course OTC and RX meds are not really part of the detox plan. And they are not healthy... think Vioxx (kills people) and then my dad was killed by his unnecessary cholesterol medicine Lescol. I am very anti-medicine now. If your body hurts or whatever, you need to figure out why. Not treat the symptoms... treat the CAUSE! Most ailments can be cured through proper diet and dietary restrictions and exercise. But most people won't do the work. Most cholesterol medicine is unneccessary and overused. Cholesterol is not what kills people. It is produced naturally by the body... it is inflammation that kills people. The majority of people on cholesterol meds and insulin (Type 2) could get off of them via a severe reduction in carbs and a lot of exercise... but of course that takes work and it is easier to pop a pill. Now there are the random cases where medication may be necessary, but they are few and far between. Doctors are drug dealers and are paid to overprescribe drugs. Ooops... random ranting tangent I went off on. Anyway... I think the pain may have been a detox symptom (which would mean the cause is the detox, which is a good thing... I just need to get through it. Taking Vicodin just masks the symptoms and fries out my liver and kidneys). So I suffered. The Extra Strength muscle rub stuff didn't even touch it, when normally it helps a lot. Thankfully I did not have a ton of clients that day.

My skin is out of control... disgustingly gross breakouts. All over- chest, back, face, shoulders... but again this means the detox is working. The worse the symptoms, the more toxic I was.

I have added in nuts (raw almonds mostly... a few soynuts... need to buy walnuts... bought raw organic pumpkin seeds from Trader Joes- GROSS!) to the mix for protein, which in the past have caused me to gain weight. Not sure why- other than they are high in calories and fat- the good fat.

I cheated a bit this weekend (last night... Mike made ice cream pie which he was really proud of... so I tried it. Damn it was sweet... and it made me feel sick... I mean it tasted good, but then after I felt sick. Oh and we tried some Sprouts brand nacho chips- bad idea... soooooooooo salty). Both made me feel horrible. Tonight we went out to dinner at a new sports bar place in Gilbert. I didn't really want to go... would rather stayed home and had a cantaloupe for dinner, but Mike insisted. It sucked. My salad was gross, hard iceberg lettuce with a few sour cucumbers on it. His burger was gross. We are not going back there... We are picky restaurant people and usually frequent 1-2 favorite places and thats it. We have really cut back on that though. We either get bad food or bad service- even at the places where we are known as 'regulars.'

Oh and I have not worked out since Wednesday. I am trying to give my body a rest... I don't want to stress it too much while detoxing. I am still going to workout, just not for 2 hours a day like usual. But my back was hurting on Thursday so I laid off, then Friday I wanted to die so I didn't go to the gym. Today I trained from 7am-noon, then worked on the new business from 1pm-5pm. I am going tomorrow though.

Tomorrow I am also going back to strict fruit only. I was doing fantastic with that and want to continue the experiment. I mostly eat cantaloupe and berries. Like a whole cantaloupe at a time, which only has 193 calories. I find that amazing. It is a LOT of food. I LOVE it though. LOVE IT! I actually eat about 3 cantaloupes per day and lots of strawberries and blueberries... a few grapes and an occasional apple or 2.

Also I have eliminated all cleaning chemicals and products. All of my household cleaners (spray cleaners, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, floor mopping soap, glass cleaner, etc) are tea tree oil based products and could basically be drank/drunk? (whatever) by humans/animals and not be harmed/killed. I have even switched to a natural deodorant. I need to switch toothpaste as well. Fluoride is not good for you (which is why I am drinking mostly distilled water). I use all natural (tea tree based) hand and body soap as well as shaving cream. Up to 60% of the stuff you put on your skin (read a lotion bottle once- what is all that crap you can't pronounce??) is absorbed into your system. I switched out all of the chemicals about 6 months ago.

I am going to eventually go organic on all of my food, but I figure one abrupt change at a time. I use organic when I can.

Ok... Saturday night at 8:50pm and I have work to do! Launching another business to be announced later. Dang- I typed a lot more than I planned on....

I am in the midst...

2006-07-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

of a fruit-only detox... I have given up my all-time favorite things... that mostly contain chemicals: sugar free popsicles, diet dr pepper, crystal light, flavored sugar-free bubbly water...

I am about a week into it with a few little cheats or slip ups... but I am only drinking distilled water- nothing else. In the past this would have KILLED me. For some reason, the timing of this must be right for me because it has not been too hard. I felt like crap the first few days (this is a detox side effect, so I have dealt with it and feel better each day). I have not eaten ANYTHING (other than a spoonful of Light Miracle Whip) processed at all. No condiments. Nothing canned. Nothing out a box. No restaurant food. Not a bite of Mike's pizza. Not a sip of soda. Nothing.

I have also cut out meat. This is totally against what I have done for years. Basically all I have eaten was meat- a very high protein diet... because that is mainly what keeps me lean. Protein is the ONLY thing that grows muscle. I find most women REALLY skimp on protein. So this makes me nervous. Eating fruit makes me nervous. For so long, I avoided it as most bodybuilders and fitness girls do. Too much sugar- even though it is wholesome sugar. So in the back of my mind I am wondering if I am going to gain 20lbs... but I have decided that this is an experiment and if I gain weight, I gain weight. I am sticking to it for long enough to decide if I feel a lot better over time.

I have just not felt well for a looooooooooooooooong time. Tired all the time. Drained (granted I work a very weird schedule). Massive stomach issues and bloating- I deal with this 100% of the time and am generally miserable. I am going to continue on this for probably a month and then see how I feel and where I am at physically. I have been reading and researching a ton because I have been so conditioned to eat for aesthetic purposes only. Not health purposes, though for the most part they coincided for me.

I was thinking I would post every day a pretty detailed tracking of what I am doing and how I am feeling... mainly so I can look back and notice if things are working or not. But I am in the process of starting a new business venture in addition to my current personal training schedule, so it will be challenging. I am also reading everything I can possibly find on vegan and raw and detox topics... now I am not going to start hugging trees or anything. I just want to explore a totally different approach and see how I feel. If it doesn't work out, I will return to my meat-eating ways (minus the chemical foods).

I will post here as much as possible........

Changing directions in my fitness world...

2006-07-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

BIG TIME.

Going to revive the blog....
More info to follow... hopefully very soon.